XV 



THE KILLDEER 



THEEE is a large group of medium-sized birds that 

 have always interested me. They have long, slen- 

 der legs and bills like the herons but do not have their 

 excessively long necks and slender bodies. In fact, most 

 of them have bodies as plump as a partridge or a quail. 

 Their wings, long and slender, are so relatively more than 

 those of the crane and herons; and instead of being awk- 

 ward on their legs these birds are rapid runners. Indeed, I 

 know of no birds anywhere near their size that are so active 

 on foot as this family. There are many varieties, com- 

 monly known as snipes, sandpipers^ woodcocks, plovers, 

 etc. They all have similar habits, so if you know the life 

 history of one, you can form a fair idea of how the others 

 live. They are easily recognized from other birds by their 

 long legs and distinctive bills, which separate them from 

 other birds in general, and by the plump body and shorter 

 neck which distinguish them from the cranes, the herons, 

 and the bitterns. 



These birds for the most part live along the coast or 

 along the shores of lakes and streams, tho they are often 

 found in pastures and meadows, especially in tLs swampy 

 places. They feed mostly on worms, snails, insects and 

 crustaceans that are found in shallow water. Possibly 



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